A Platform to Prosper

“Give a man a fish and you have fed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime!”

This proverb couldn’t be any more apt. Every child in our country has the right to education. Unfortunately, the vast economic disparity in our society doesn’t allow this to happen. As a result, many children remain illiterate as they cannot afford even the most basic education.

That’s where selfless women like Inderjit Khurana come in. A schoolteacher herself, she used to commute by train to work every day. She would notice some children begging for food in the train or doing small odd jobs to make a living. She was well aware of the fact that these children would never get an education as the money they do end up earning is spent in procuring their meals.

That’s when Inderjit decided to use her skill and teach these kids on the train platform itself. Nearly 100 students became a part of the clan within a few months of the commencement of these ‘platform schools’ at which she would use simple flash cards or take them on small field trips as methods of teaching them.

More members joined her and the Platform School and as it began to grow Inderjit realised that she was onto creating a life changing experience for these children. She branched out in terms of reach, began conducting training courses, opened a shelter for runaway kids and provided medical help as well.

Inderjit passed away in 2010, but has left behind an organisation with a legacy that inspires people to continue enriching children’s lives with light of knowledge and education.

All it took was the resolve of one teacher to inspire others to come forth and share their skillsets as well. To inspire others to transform a kid’s life for the better. When one woman can inspire so many, shouldn’t every woman also be inspired to use her power?

Women must join other women and change the way democracy currently views them. Women must be inspired to act by the possibilities that can be achieved by the #PowerOf49.

Think about it.